WORKSHOP STATEMENT
Issued at Padre Pio Retreat Centre on 10 April 2025
Introduction
Guided by the hope in this Year of Jubilee, as pilgrims of hope, IMBISA places itself at the service of humankind in the quest for lasting peace. The historical foundations of the countries, post-colonial developments, geopolitics, and the evolving world order all bear on statehood and consequently on the ordinary women and men, including children or young people. The Church has a role to play in its prophetic being as it communicates the message of the Jubilee—‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor’ (Lk 4. 19). The Church is also being called to unite as one body in speaking truth to power, challenging the structures of sin in the building and consolidation of homegrown solutions in peace building and conflict resolution. The young people, who in the language of Christus Vivit are ‘the now of God’[1] , cannot be pushed to the periphery of important discussions. They are ends in themselves, befitting of respect through involvement in a true synodal sense. The clarion call of Laudato Sì rings louder, especially looking at the extractive industry of IMBISA countries, which is exploitative to people’s health and wellbeing as well as the environment. Such excesses are also a reason for conflict in many parts of the countries. St. Francis of Assisi’ Prayer of Peace is more urgent in our times. Justice and Peace commissions have to lobby and advocate for free, fair, and credible plebiscites and engage policy makers and state institutions to confront the culture of violence and death that pervades our communities.
The delegates at the meeting convened at Padre Pio Retreat Centre, South Africa, from 8 to 11 April 2025, brought out the following points for reflection and action:
- The Church is called to emphasize its prophetic role of justice and peace promotion. Conflicts are complex in their genesis, make-up, drivers, and evolution, but all with dire consequences on the vulnerable members who form the majority of our community of IMBISA. Ecumenical and interfaith efforts with bodies like the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA) need to be pursued vigorously.
- The Church commits to working with all living forces committed to lasting peace in our communities. Deliberate efforts should be made to realize collaborations with regional bodies like the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) (consummation of the Memorandum of Understanding) as well as continental bodies like the African Union at the SECAM level and election observation in the region. Strategic plans sharing is one low-hanging fruit, as peace needs to be pursued from the political, social, and economic fronts.
- Young people are an integral part of the Body of Christ. Genuine and sincere dialogue with and by young people needs to continue. Older people who, through their experience can point to or give directions should always consult the young people who certainly are set to inherit the world after them
- The problem of mining and extractive industries is pervasive in IMBISA countries. The wise move by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) of a class action lawsuit against mining firms needs to be a learning point for other conferences. The exploitative nature of Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) in general need coordinated and strong advocacy at policy and community levels , if modern day slavery is to be a thing of the past
- Improved documentation, robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning; sharing of best practices; and inward-looking resource mobilization strategies within justice and peace commissions in IMBISA need to be pursued urgently.
END
[1].[95] Young friends, do not wait until tomorrow to contribute your energy, your audacity and your creativity to changing our world. Your youth is not an “in-between time”. You are the now of God, and he wants you to bear fruit. Pope Francis (25 March 2019). ""Christus Vivit": Post-Synodal Exhortation to Young People and to the entire People of God" (Apostolic exhortation). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.